Principality Stadium to host Byte Night – Action for Children’s biggest annual fundraiser

What: Over 100 people from top businesses across the Wales are sleeping rough, exposed to the elements, on the boardwalk outside the Principality Stadium to raise vital funds for youth services run by Action for Children.

Where: Principality Stadium, Cardiff

When: 6pm Oct 6 for arrivals at stadium or 6am on Saturday, October 7 at the Principality Stadium for conclusion of event

Contact: Alastair Love, news and media relations officer at Action for Children on 02920 347068/07872 675688 alastair.love@actionforchildren.org.uk

More than 100 people from businesses across Wales are taking part in Byte Night, Action for Children’s largest annual fundraiser, at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, October 6 to raise money for youth services run by Action for Children.

Companies including Acorn, Atradius, BT, Capital Networks, Spindogs, KPMG, Barclays, Cardiff Start, Conduit Global, and Capgemini are bedding down for the night to help ensure vulnerable young people across Wales have a safe and loving place to call home.

Simultaneous events will take place in London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Reading, Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham, with over 1,700 people sleeping out across the UK. Action for Children hopes Byte Night will raise over £1.2 million to support its work with vulnerable children, young people and families.

Jeremy Thomas, KPMG director and co-chair of the Byte Night Wales board, said: “I’m thrilled Byte Night is coming back to Wales and the wonderful Principality Stadium. Last year’s event was a great night of networking, fun and camaraderie that raised over £35,000.

“Byte Night is great fun but we never forget that we get to return to warm homes, full fridges and cosy beds in the morning. For too many young people living in Wales and across the UK, this simply isn’t the case.”

David Sadler, Head of IT Recruitment at Acorn and fellow co-chair of the Byte Night Wales board, added: “The money we are raising is vital as we’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the young people that Action for Children supports and hear their inspiring stories first-hand. The money raised provides more support when they most need it and can really help put their lives back on track.

“We got off to a good start last year but the Wales board is very ambitious and keen to beat last year’s total. We have a lot more sleepers this year and have raised more money in the run up to the sleep out so we’re very optimistic we can do even more to help those young in the community who need it most.”

Byte Night 2016 raised over £1.2 million, with more 1,200 people sleeping out on the same night across the UK.

To take part in this year’s Byte Night please visit; www.bytenight.org.uk/register, or to donate, simply text BYTE17 with the amount (£) to 70070.

For further media information please contact Alastair Love, media officer at Action for Children, on 02920 347068 / 07872 675688 / alastair.love@actionforchildren.org.uk

Out–of–hours enquiries should be directed to the duty press officer on 07802 806679/ media.team@actionforchildren.org.uk

At least 83,000 young people in the UK each year, aged 16-24, approach local authorities for support due to homelessness, often through no fault of their own. The majority will end up on the streets because of a family breakdown, substance misuse or mental health issues.
 
Action for Children’s aim is to try to prevent youth homelessness by providing early intervention and support for vulnerable young people facing these issues.

Through our projects and services, many funded by Byte Night, Action for Children also helps young people who find themselves homeless to find and keep accommodation, develop vital independence skills and access employment and training opportunities.